Under the microscope
Posted on Monday 13th October 2008
It is always interesting seeing life from the other side, and today was my turn to “play patient”.
Yes, that time of year has come round again and the paperwork begins once more. In order to make a successful application the Australian government put us immigrants under the bright lights. This involves being irradiated to check for tuberculosis, and handing over various bodily fluids before being asked to drop one’s shorts and cough. Then there was a trip to the Adelaide Police Station to be scrutinised by the law, so the immigration department will still consider me “of good character”.
It is also interesting how the way staff members treat you changes when they find out you are a doctor. Perhaps all of us health professionals alter our behaviour and manner when “one of us” is the patient. The most noticeable was the prim clerk on the front desk at the health check centre who rapidly defrosted when she noticed the words “Medical Practitioner” in the job description box.
Another interesting thing I noticed today was both of the staff who did my health check were fellow immigrants. The nurse who did my blood test was very obviously Seed Ifricen, and the doctor who did the examination was from Malta. So we had a good chuckle about how us immigrants are taking over the place.
In a couple of weeks the results should be through and then I will have to justify myself.
